The crystal structure of the selective phenoxy-phenoxy grass herbicide (±)-methyl 2-[4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) phenoxy]propionate (Diclofop-methyl) has been determined by direct methods and refined by least squares to a final residual of 0.039 for 1297 observed reflections. The conformational features of the 2-phenoxypropionate moiety in the molecule closely resemble those of the substituted 2-phenoxypropionic acid herbicides, where structural aspects are well systematized. There appears to be little conformational change associated with the presence of the substituent methyl ester group on the acid.